Sydney is home to many iconic sites, from The
Opera House to The Blue Mountains, there are lots of 'must do's' for the first time visitor (and long time resident alike) to experience.
Sydney Harbour
The beautiful Harbour foreshore with its proximity to
The Rocks area, the
Harbour Bridge and the bustling wharf at Circular Quay are often at the top of the list. Catch a
ferry to
Taronga Zoo or Watsons Bay, or the RiverCat to Parramatta for a day on the water, especially when the sun is shining on a gorgeous Spring or Summer's day.
Chinatown
Darling Harbour and
Chinatown present offerings at the Southern end of the CBD and
The Cross and Rushcutters Bay have the Eastern side well covered. Around Hyde Park is
St Mary's Cathedral and
The Australian Museum. The
Anzac War Memorial lies within the park itself and can be found amongst the magnificent fig tree lined pathways.
El Alamein Fountain, Kings Cross
Take a walk down Macquarie Street to see the
Hyde Park Barracks, The
Sydney Mint Museum, New South Wales
Parliament House and The
State Library. At the end there you will find the extensive grounds of the
Royal Botanic Gardens with its unbeatable views of the Harbour from
Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
Avenue of giant Fig trees in Hyde Park
Moving away from the city area, we find Glebe, Balmain, and Newtown with their restaurants, cafes and interesting shops. You could easily spend a day walking around these areas exploring the quirky stores and cafes.
Parramatta is home to many historical sites such as
St Johns Cathedral which is the oldest continuous place of worship in Australia and
Old Government House and garrison buildings on the banks of The Parramatta River.
St Johns Cathedral, Parramatta
Heading up in to The Blue Mountains, as the temperature drops a few degrees, the air takes on a freshness as you move up out of the Sydney basin. The quaint town of
Leura is a lovely spot to stop for lunch and then you can take a ride on the Scenic Railway or Skyway from
Katoomba and then stretch your legs on a bushwalk to The Three Sisters.
The Skyway in Katoomba
Of course, this is but a small bite from the feast of sites and experiences that Sydney offers its visitors. Do you have some favorites to share?
